The 2-1 Rule

Imagine this: You are giving an argumentative presentation on veganism. You’ve presented the data strongly, highlighted how your opponent’s points are flawed and you’re closing your argument smoothly. Yet, there’s a catch: despite all of your strong refutation you answer your interlocutor’s questions and respond to their refutations in a lack-luster manner. Your presentation ends up not convincing anyone in your audience to become vegan.

What Went Wrong?

The answer is clear: you couldn’t defend your points in a fluid manner. You only attacked your opponent's points. This is a problem with many people- even experienced speaker and presenters- in rounds. Even when we present our points amazingly, they mean very little without substance. That’s why we need the 2-1 rule.

Well, What Can I do?

The answer for this is simple as well: Prioritize defense over offense. What does this mean? Think of debate like playing goalie in soccer. Prioritizing defense means solidifying your position and being ready to block attacks. If you're constantly trying to score on your opponent with no defense, then you will struggle to win. On the contrary, if your offense isn’t great but you have solid defense then the game will be much closer. Just as a good goalkeeper ensures the team's lead is secure, a debater with a strong defense protects their main points and sets up winning arguments. Even if you struggle to refute your opponent’s points, in the endgame you will still have a strong argument that you can compare against your opponent for the win.

So, What is The 2-1 Rule?

You will have an easier time finding the right thing to say in round by drawing on your already existing knowledge of the argument you have familiarized yourself with. The "2-1 Rule" for Debate: Prioritize defense twice as much as offense. Spend double the time strengthening your main arguments and anticipating counterarguments. Start by defending your side of the flow. That defense should be the double the time you spent attacking your opponent's argument. (e.g. 1 minute defending and 30 seconds attacking).



Keep in mind debaters that this might not always be the case but a large majority of the time prioritizing defending your arguments will get you closer to the win in rounds!

Happy Debating!

Remi Kojo,

The Forensic Funnel Team.