1、抓住短文的論點,論據(jù)并明確作者用以論證的方法是歸納、類推還是演繹;歸納法是指從個別實例出發(fā),最后得出一般性結論,是一個從個別到一般的推論方法。類推是指先列舉出一個實例,然后從這個實例得出的論點出發(fā)去推想其他的情況。演繹法是指從一般陳述開始,最后給出具體、特殊的結論,是一種從一般到個別的推理方法;例如:There are two reasons for why many people are not satisfied with their work ……So they can enjoy their work。即屬于演繹法;
2、論述文通常立中有駁、駁中有立,閱讀中要特別注意其中的反駁內(nèi)容;例如: The rising birth rate is not due to increased fertility, but to a sharp decline in the death rate。“but”否定了前面的觀點;
3、抓住論證中表示因果(because,as a result,therefore等)、遞進(moreover,in addition等)和轉折(but,however等)的信號詞;
4、注意作者使用的表達自己贊同、反對等感情色彩的動詞、形容詞、副詞或句型。例如:agree、oppose、be against、objectively、certainly、surely、The same is true of、I would certainly prefer the ……等等。