1、抓住短文的论点,论据并明确作者用以论证的方法是归纳、类推还是演绎;归纳法是指从个别实例出发,最后得出一般性结论,是一个从个别到一般的推论方法。类推是指先列举出一个实例,然后从这个实例得出的论点出发去推想其他的情况。演绎法是指从一般陈述开始,最后给出具体、特殊的结论,是一种从一般到个别的推理方法;例如:There are two reasons for why many people are not satisfied with their work ……So they can enjoy their work。即属于演绎法;
2、论述文通常立中有驳、驳中有立,阅读中要特别注意其中的反驳内容;例如: The rising birth rate is not due to increased fertility, but to a sharp decline in the death rate。“but”否定了前面的观点;
3、抓住论证中表示因果(because,as a result,therefore等)、递进(moreover,in addition等)和转折(but,however等)的信号词;
4、注意作者使用的表达自己赞同、反对等感情色彩的动词、形容词、副词或句型。例如:agree、oppose、be against、objectively、certainly、surely、The same is true of、I would certainly prefer the ……等等。