As you are reading the assigned/selected book, jot down themes, character traits, points relating to conflict, plot structure, quotations which you think you could us to illustrate theme, recurrent images, symbols etc... Do some research on the author- when and where he was born and lived, titles of some of his/her other books, recurrent theses or subjects in his books, his particular field of interest, prizes or awards won etc, the world view or philosophy he belieces it eg. Was he a realist, existentialist, naturalist, Christian etc? Plan y ....