The next step is to direct your inquiry.  You will ask a series of 8-10 questions that will get you thinking more deeply about your topic.  You can begin by asking yourself “What do I want to know about my topic?”  You may already have an opinion about your topic.  This is different than settling on a thesis for the entire paper.  An opinion is just a feeling or viewpoint that proves that you’re interested in your topic in the first place.  However, in your questions, I’d like you to challenge that opinion.  I may very well feel that Ritalin is being over-prescribed, but I should state that opinion as a question in order to open up my mind and research direction.  So instead of saying Ritalin is being over-prescribed, I would phrase it in the form of a question:  Is Ritalin being over-prescribed to children?  This one question will lead to other questions: 
 

The six basic questions from the journalistic model may help you come up with even more inquiries:  Who?  What?  When?  Where?  Why?  How?  These questions require more than just a “yes” or “no” answer, and so will help you dig a little deeper into your subject.