5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information request category is selected from: a how-to category; a property category; an explanation category; and combinations thereof.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the information request category includes a how-to category, and the at least one discourse pattern is selected from: a pattern specifying that a direct or indirect question contains the word how in combination with a 1st person subject; a pattern specifying that a direct or indirect question contains the word how to or way, a pattern specifying that a direct or indirect question containing an instance of the lemma do has an instance of the lemma what as its direct object; and combinations thereof.