Format the incoming data into a lowstate object

def _get_lowstate(self):
        '''
        Format the incoming data into a lowstate object
        '''
        if not self.request.body:
            return
        data = self.deserialize(self.request.body)
        self.request_payload = copy(data)

        if data and 'arg' in data and not isinstance(data['arg'], list):
            data['arg'] = [data['arg']]

        if not isinstance(data, list):
            lowstate = [data]
        else:
            lowstate = data

        return lowstate