HTTPD-CONF editing

Ok, I am a beginner at webserver management. All my previous
experience has been with the development of e-learning products where
the placement of content and files are specifically stated in
contracts. But I currently have been developing and uploading a
webserver at the house to be a training server where I can play
without embarrassing myself on the WWW. I am currently using a MAC G3
B&W that has been loaded with Fedora 6, Apache 2.2.4, MySQL 5.0.37,
and PHP 5.2.1. I finally found good, understandable instructions on
how to ./configure, make, and make install for all the above and
everything went fine. My problem now comes when I start modifying the
HTTPD.CONF document.

As a standard, how do I state where I want my www root documents to
go. I found the location in the httpd.conf document where it is
stipulated, but is there a normal file/folder structure that web
administrators use to put websites that are hosted by that server???
do I make a www root folder or what???

respectfully,
Anthony Jackman
US Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer (ret)
multimedia/e-learning developer