I already have a very specific search term.  What's a good search engine to use?
    Because of their huge coverage,  AltaVista's Advanced Search  and  Google are excellent search engines for this situation.

I have a broad topic.  How can I find information to help me focus my research?
    Try a directory such as Librarians' Index to the Internet or Yahoo.  Since you already have a broad topic, use the search box rather than browsing by topic.

I'm really not sure what I what to search for.  Is there a directory that will guide me through the steps of choosing a broad topic and narrowing it?
     Take a look at the Librarians' Index to the Internet.  Click on a narrower term at each level to gradually narrow your search.
     Use the same method in the Web Directory section of AltaVista.  

I'd rather have a few good sites than a lot of mediocre ones.  What do you suggest?
    Choose directories over seach engines.  Real people choose the sites listed on directories.  Here are some reputable ones:     
About.com
AcademicInfo
Infomine
Librarians' Index to the Internet

I keep getting commercial sites that are trying to sell me stuff instead of informational sites.  Any suggestions?
    You might try Google, one of the best search engines at weeding out commercial sites.

I need to find a business or organization.
    Try Yahoo.

I'm searching for a proper name.  Where's the best place to start?
    If you use AltaVista, capitalizing the names will result in a case-sensitive search, which should focus on proper names.
 

For more information on selecting search engines, see:
*UC Berkeley Library'sFinding Information on the Internet: A TUTORIAL
*Noodletool's  "Choose the Best Search for Your Information Needs" page.
*Search Engine Watch.