Eugene Volokh (of the Conspiracy) has written a fantastic primer on writing student notes and research papers.

There is, of course, the perennially recommended Stalking the Golden Topic (1996 Utah L. Rev. 917), but that article is primarily geared to those who are stuck at the first step.

Volokh's guide helps you work through refining your topic and structuring and building your analysis. I have found it an invaluable resource in my own work, and you will too, now you know that it exists! I found it while searching for something entirely different. Go figure.