The following questions help you to work backward (coming down the ladder, starting at the top):

• Why have I chosen this course of action? Are there other actions I should have considered?
• What belief lead to that action? Was it well-founded?
• Why did I draw that conclusion? Is the conclusion sound?
• What am I assuming, and why? Are my assumptions valid?
• What data have I chosen to use and why? Have I selected data rigorously?
• What are the real facts that I should be using? Are there other facts I should consider?