With electronic research, you'll quickly get a great deal of information. Be sure to have a plan so you have time to analyze the researched material. Stop periodically to assess both the emerging general picture you have of your topic and the quality of the specific information. Researching electronically can become a mesmerizing activity, and you might find that at the end of a pleasant afternoon there is nothing to report. You might even try setting a timer (some computers have this feature installed), stopping every hour or so to make sure you have something concrete, so you aren't caught empty-handed at the deadline.

In libraries, you may be restricted to fifteen minutes' usage of a computer during peak times. If you're using a commercial service, you can easily run up a huge bill.

• Narrow your search and have a good list of search words before you go online
• Use the helpline (look for a button with a question mark or the word "help" or "search for help")--particularly when you use any program for the first time
• Use keyword and the back buttons; "bookmark" favorite sites (see Typing Reminders)
• As you come across interesting information, save it to your disk and then read and/or print off-line
• Compose and read e-mail off-line (your program will show you how)
• If a site takes too long to come up, use the stop button at the top of the screen (or Ctrl+Pause or Esc) to interrupt the request; then make a note of it and try again later

On the other hand, recognize the value of browsing. Allow time (say half an hour) for aimless exploring. Since the Web is constantly changing, give yourself the chance to be open to new discoveries. If you feel overwhelmed or frustrated, stop to recall what you asked the computer to do. You may have asked the wrong question, or the answer you expect is not as readily available as you hoped. You need not be intimidated by the wealth of information on the Internet; you can, with patience, usually find ways to discover what you want to know.