starter testing

["Danny Anderson" <bturnip@domain.elided>]

IH'ers,
I am turning to you for the correct procedure for testing the starter off
the battery.  I know this is a basic test- I thought I knew how to do it.  
Also, what can happen if the jumper cables are hooked up incorrectly? :)  
I tried hooking the jumper cables up like I thought they were supposed to
be connected.  But, instead of the gear (the gear that would turn the
flywheel, bendix?) shooting out and spinning like I expected, I got sparks
and the starter literally bucked and flopped for a second.  Almost like I
was electrocuting it!  Yikes!
Somebody please pull out of my pool of automotive ignorance and tell me
what I did, what happens now, and what I should have done.
A thousand thanks.

danny
bturnip@domain.elided