Make a list of all of the major themes and characters of the text, author or paper you are planning to write about.
Ask yourself if you are writing an analytical paper, an expository essay or a paper which argues against a traditionally accepted view of the text. If you are writing an analytic paper, you can formulate your thesis around a very narrow and specific chapter or passage in the text, breaking down the language, rhythm, metaphors and themes in this section. For example, you can analyze the sonnets in a section of a Shakespeare play, discussing how rhythm adds significance to words. An expository essay should be more general, focusing on either an entire text or the life of an individual. While your thesis still must be focused, it can address larger issues and themes pertaining to an entire text, revealing how someone has changed or failed to change through a text. For a paper that argues against traditional views, you may need to bring in additional texts to support a more obtuse reading of the text. Your thesis can address how these alternative texts illuminate the primary text you are writing about.
Narrow down your notes and thoughts to one essential question which cuts to the essence of your argument. This question does not necessarily need to argue against conventional views, it is simply an alternative way of formulating your thesis so that you can get to the point of why you are interested in this particular author or work.
Write down as many one-sentence answers to this question as you can.
Select one sentence that offers you the most material for a rich and meaningful essay. For example, if you are answering the question, "How does the rhythm of Shakespeare's sonnets add meaning to the text?" -- you may write, "Like dramatic music entering a movie, the additional rhythm in the sonnets heightens the action and importance of the scene." Because this sentence is rich with potential analysis, you can compare other dramatic movies to the plays, showing how the technique is used. You can also show through your essay how all these sonnets are turning points in the plays.
Write down a minimum of three reasons why this sentence best answers the question. For example, Shakespeare uses sonnets as a literary device for rhythm, pause and a break in structure. These reasons can then be analyzed individually.
Create your thesis, limiting it to an introductory sentence and one main sentence. If you are creating a large and in-depth paper on your thesis, you may need to add several more sentences to cover all the aspects of your paper.