I agree with fancyPants's Comment.
short answer: practice, practice, practice
but Long Answer: (in theory of Data Modeling)
every techniques and frameworks in computer science have some patterns. Database Design for Information Systems or Data Modeling has some patterns too.
I recommend following steps to learn data modeling patterns (I've been teaching them for 6 years):
Introduction to Data Modeling Heuristics and Patterns
Data Modeling Patterns – Entity, Attributes
Data Modeling Patterns – Relationships, Cardinality
Types of Attributes (Composite, Multi-Value, Derived)
Data Modeling Patterns – Trees and Graphs
Data Modeling Patterns – Traps
Data Modeling Patterns – List Pattern
Data Modeling Patterns – Status Pattern
Mapping Object Oriented Design to Relational Data Model
to find references, just google them or:
Best collection of Data Modeling patterns, gathered in remarkable book:
PATTERNS OF DATA MODELING, by MICHAEL BLAHA, CRC Press, (2010)
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