The scaffold is a structured map of your argument that lives alongside your prose. It shows you how your thesis, claims, and evidence connect as you write.
The scaffold has four types of nodes, each with a distinct color:
Your central argument. Each project has exactly one thesis node. Start here: what are you arguing?
The main points supporting your thesis. Each claim should be a distinct, arguable statement that your evidence can back up.
Facts, data, or quotes that back each claim. Evidence nodes can link to sources in your library, connecting your argument directly to your research.
Objections you acknowledge and address. Including counter-arguments shows that you have considered alternative perspectives.
Claims show a status badge based on how much evidence supports them:
Click the add button in the scaffold panel to create new nodes. Start with a thesis, then add claims that support it. For each claim, add evidence nodes and connect them to sources in your library. Add counter-arguments where your argument faces objections.
As your draft grows, the scaffold shows you the full structure of your argument at a glance. You can see which claims are well-supported and which need more evidence.
Select text in the writing panel and link it to a scaffold node. When you click a node in the scaffold, the linked text highlights in the editor using the node's color. This makes the connection between your prose and your argument structure visible.
Click the PDF button in the scaffold toolbar to export the graph as a landscape PDF. Useful for sharing your argument structure with advisors or collaborators.