Think of this as a formulation of an answer to an indirect question. Thesis ought to outline the argument to be made in a piece of writing. Be specific about claims. Give broad view of the work.
I want to study the connection between empathy and play because I want to understand how socialization through play contributes to a person's capacity for and deployment of empathy.
Take 5-10 minutes to come up with 2.
What do you notice in the work? What stands out to you? Patterns? Common ideas or connective tissue between ideas? Underlying messages?
What is happening around the creation of the source? Historical context? Social? Personal? What do you know—or, what can you find out?—about the context of the material's creation?
What connections do you notice between texts or within texts? How do ideas or themes in the text relate to each other?
What did you learn? Synthesize what you have argued or claimed. How do we use this knowledge going forward?