Having decided on a research topic and determined that the Web really is the best place to do some of your research, it's tempting to jump onto the Web and start surfing. However, in order to search more effectively and more efficiently, it's helpful to create a research plan before you go to the Web in order to help guide you through your research. The research plan answers the familiar questions of who, what, where, why, when, and how. Answering these questions will help you have a more concrete idea of what you're looking for, so you will be in a better position to recognize the information when you find it.

• Think about the who and what of your topic
• Think about the when, why, where of your topic