Your thesis topic must be based on a piece of literature, whether a novel, poem, short story or play. You can already begin working on a thesis topic by taking notes as you read. Reading the text multiple times will help solidify your understanding of it. Read actively by highlighting, underlining and scribbling notes in the margins or on sticky notes. After you read, start writing down your reactions to and ideas about the text on a fresh piece of paper. Strong opinions, points of interest and concepts or developments you understood well are a fruitful beginning place. Ultimately, you are looking for a pattern of connections--among characters, literary devices and themes--that illuminate meaning in the story. The "Norton" advises that good essays are born out of "a desire to communicate," so think about what you would want to tell somebody about this text.
An effective thesis topic must be debatable. If your thesis topic is descriptive or factual, you will merely be summarizing the text and not bringing anything original to the discussion. Controversial theses, theses that pose an unusual or unique opinion or ones take a contrary position to a published journal article make for compelling essays. Ensure your thesis is not simply your personal preference either. Remember, you are trying to coax your reader to consider your side of the issue; he has to be able to see your perspective without being you.
One reason thesis topics fail is that they are too broad in scope. Your thesis should be provable in the amount of space you have. A three-page paper will require a fairly simple, easily provable argument, while a 15-page research paper will require a longer, more involved thesis. Once you have brainstormed a topic, finding your position on the issue is the next step. Consider why the author wrote something, or the effect a particular theme, structure or narrative voice has on the reader, the characters or developments in the story or poem. Possible titles for thesis papers should look something like the following: "Attitudes toward Authority in 'Sir Patrick Spens,'" "The Selection and Ordering of the Scenes in Cheever's 'The Country Husband'" and "Motivation in Lessing's 'Our Friend Judith.'" Make sure you can find textual support for your stance.
An effective thesis statement is one sentence long and is written in a clear, concise and direct manner. Your whole essay relies on your thesis, so it needs to be solid. Think of your thesis statement like a summary of your ideas. Ask yourself: if my professor only had time to read the thesis of my essay, would she understand the gist of it? You can also think of your essay as the answer to a question. If you can figure out a question you wish to ask of the text, the answer will be your thesis.