asking help for a research paper

[E.A]

Hello everybody! I have to write a research paper on a novel but I don't know the steps to follow. I'm thinking of writing my research paper on The Old Man And The Sea by E.H but I don't know a good topic to discuss. If you please have suggestion of a good topic and how to write the outline, and to give me some books that discuss the topic suggested to make them as references.
I'm waiting for your replays