3 kinds of thesis statement

Types Of Thesis Statements

Different Types of Thesis Statements Explained with Examples

Published on: Sep 3, 2024

Last updated on: Sep 3, 2024

The 3 Major Types of Thesis Statements

A thesis statement is a single sentence that tells the main idea or point of your essay. A good thesis statement clearly explains what your essay is about and what you’re trying to show or argue.

Depending on the nature and the type of paper you’re writing, thesis statements can be divided into three primary types.

Expository/Explanatory Thesis Statement

An explanatory or expository thesis statement is all about giving information and explaining something. When you use this type, you’re setting up your essay to provide details, describe a process, or clarify a concept. Your goal is to inform the reader rather than to argue or analyze.

Example: “The process of photosynthesis involves the conversion of sunlight into energy, which plants use to grow and produce oxygen.”

In this example, the thesis statement clearly indicates that the essay will explain how photosynthesis works. It doesn’t try to persuade the reader or analyze different aspects; it simply provides information on a topic.

Argumentative Thesis Statement

In this example, the thesis statement clearly indicates that the argumentative essay will explain how photosynthesis works. It doesn’t try to persuade the reader or analyze different aspects; it simply provides information on a topic.

Example: “Implementing a four-day workweek would increase productivity and improve employee well-being, making it a beneficial change for modern businesses.”

Here, the thesis statement makes a clear argument that the four-day workweek is a positive change. The essay will then focus on providing evidence and reasons to support this point of view, as well as addressing any opposing views.

Analytical Thesis Statement

An analytical thesis statement breaks down a topic into its components and examines them. It’s used when you want to analyze how something works or evaluate different parts of a subject. This type of thesis statement is great for essays that involve analyzing literature, processes, or events.

Example: “In Shakespeare’s Hamlet , the use of soliloquies reveals the internal conflicts of the characters, illustrating their struggles with morality and action.”

This thesis statement sets up an essay that will analyze how soliloquies in Hamlet reflect the characters’ inner conflicts. It shows that the essay will dissect the use of these soliloquies and explain their significance.

Other Commonly Used Types

Besides the major types of thesis statements, there are several others that you might come across. Each type serves a different purpose and helps shape your essay in specific ways. Here’s a quick look at some commonly used kinds of thesis statements:

Persuasive Thesis Statement

When your goal is to convince your reader of your viewpoint, a persuasive thesis statement comes into play. This type clearly presents the argument you'll support with evidence throughout your essay.

Narrative Thesis Statement

A narrative thesis statement introduces the story or personal experience you'll describe in your essay. It sets the stage for the main event or plot of your narrative.

Descriptive Thesis Statement

If your essay focuses on painting a vivid picture of a person, place, object, or event, you’ll use a descriptive thesis statement. This type emphasizes detailed and sensory-rich descriptions to help readers visualize the subject.

Comparative Thesis Statement

To analyze and contrast different subjects, a comparative thesis statement is what you need. It compares two or more things, highlighting their similarities and differences.

Cause and Effect Thesis Statement

Exploring how one event leads to another calls for a cause and effect thesis statement. This type examines the relationship between causes and their outcomes.

Evaluative Thesis Statement

When making a judgment about the value or significance of something, an evaluative thesis statement is used. It involves assessing and critiquing the subject based on specific criteria.

Open Thesis Statement:

An open thesis statement is broad and allows for exploring various aspects of a topic. It’s flexible and doesn’t limit the scope of the essay too much.

Closed Thesis Statement:

A closed thesis statement is more specific and outlines the exact points or arguments that will be addressed in the essay. It gives a clear direction and indicates the structure of the argument or analysis.

How to Choose the Right Type of Thesis Statement

Choosing the right thesis statement is essential for guiding your essay in the right direction. To find the best fit, consider the following steps:

Know Your Goal: Decide if you’re trying to inform, argue, analyze, or compare.
Match the Format: Choose a thesis that fits the style of your essay, like narrative, descriptive, or cause and effect.
Align with Your Points: Make sure your thesis reflects what you’ll be discussing or comparing.
Be Clear: Your thesis should clearly show the direction of your essay.
Be Flexible: Adjust your thesis if your focus changes during writing.

In Summary,

So, what’s the takeaway from all these different types of thesis statements? Understanding and choosing the right one can make a huge difference in how you communicate your ideas. Each type has its own role in shaping your essay.

If you need a helping hand with writing thesis statements, don’t worry—there’s help available. Try using the thesis statement generator from MyEssayWriter.ai . It’s a powerful tool that can guide you in creating a strong, clear thesis statement tailored to your essay’s needs.

Give our essay writer a try and take the guesswork out of your writing process!

Commonly Asked Questions

What is the 3 parts of a thesis statement.

Topic: This tells the reader what the essay is about. It’s the subject you’ll be discussing.
Claim: This is your main point or argument about the topic. It’s what you want to prove or explain.
Reasons: These are the main reasons or points that support your claim. They outline how you’ll back up your argument in the essay.

What are the different types of thesis claims?

Fact Claim: Asserts that something is true or false. It’s based on verifiable evidence.
Value Claim: Argues whether something is good or bad, right or wrong. It’s based on personal or cultural values.
Policy Claim: Suggests a course of action or change. It proposes what should be done or how things should be done differently.
Definition Claim: Defines a term or concept in a specific way. It clarifies what something means or how it should be understood.

What is a theme statement and what are its types?

A theme statement is a sentence that shows the main message or big idea of a story. Instead of just summarizing what happens, it explains what the author wants to say about life, society, or people through the story.

Its types are:

Universal theme statement
Specific theme statement
Complex theme statement
Implicit theme statement
Explicit theme statement

Caleb S. (Mass Literature and Linguistics, Masters)

Caleb S. is an accomplished author with over five years of experience and a Master's degree from Oxford University. He excels in various writing forms, including articles, press releases, blog posts, and whitepapers. As a valued author at MyEssayWriter.ai, Caleb assists students and professionals by providing practical tips on research, citation, sentence structure, and style enhancement.

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Writing a Thesis Statement — Definition, Types, and Examples

What is a thesis statement?

A thesis statement is a single sentence that identifies the topic and purpose of a scholarly research paper or academic writing. A thesis statement directly or indirectly presents the main points of the paper. Information presented in the essay should tie directly back to the thesis.

Overall, a good thesis statement accomplishes the following:

Identifies the purpose of the essay

Expresses the writer's position/opinion

Lists the main supports (optional)

Briefly summarizes the writer's conclusion(s)

Establish if the essay is explanatory, argumentative, or analytical

People often confuse thesis statements with topic sentences , which start each body paragraph. Typically, the thesis statement is the final sentence in the introductory paragraph and acts as a “road map” for the rest of the paper.

Types of thesis statements

The three main types of thesis statements are explanatory, argumentative, and analytical.

Explanatory thesis statements are used in expository essays that focus solely on informing the reader. Papers with this type of thesis do not contain the writer's opinion, nor do they try to persuade the reader.

The three main branches of science taught in public schools include biology, chemistry, and physics.

Argumentative thesis statements identify the writer's position or point of view on a given topic. Argumentative essays persuade the reader to agree with the writer's stance. If the reader cannot agree or disagree with the claim in the thesis, then it is not argumentative.

Public schools should place more emphasis on the arts because they encourage creativity, help improve academic development, and provide a beneficial emotional outlet.

Analytical thesis statements are used in papers that analyze how or why something does what it does. These thesis statements identify what the writer is analyzing, the parts of the analysis, and the order of those parts.

An analysis of course requirements in public schools suggests access to more electives can increase graduation rates.

How to write a thesis statement

When writing a thesis, the following guidelines apply:

Step 1: Determine the type of paper (explanatory, argumentative, or analytical).

Step 2: Identify the topic, position/claim, and supports of the essay.

Step 3: Determine if the supports should be included within the thesis. Although they are considered optional, they might be required depending on the audience and purpose of the essay.

Step 4: Compose a sentence that includes the topic, position, and supports (optional). While a thesis statement can be more than one sentence, it should not exceed two.

Step 5: Place the thesis statement at the end of the introductory paragraph(s). Placing it at the end of the introduction and before the supports allows the reader to focus on the paper’s main purpose.

Thesis statement examples

The following examples highlight each type of thesis statement.

Topic: Alternative Energy Sources

Explanatory Thesis: Alternative energy sources that can supplement the use of fossil fuels include solar, wind, and geothermal.

Argumentative Thesis: To combat reliance on foreign sources of fossil fuels, the United States would benefit from focusing on alternative energy options.

Analytical Thesis: Analysis suggests that replacing fossil fuels with alternative energy sources could negatively impact the economy.

Topic: Social Media

Explanatory Thesis: Three of the first platforms that influenced the world of social media include Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Argumentative Thesis: Social media negatively influences society as it increases opportunities for cyberbullying, limits face-to-face interactions, and creates unrealistic expectations.

Analytical Thesis: An analysis of the use of social media suggests itis irrevocably harming the development of teenagers.

Topic: Standardized Testing

Explanatory Thesis: Standardized tests such as the ACT and SAT play a limited role in influencing college acceptance.

Argumentative Thesis: Standardized testing should not be required because it increases anxiety, does not measure progress, and cannot predict future success.

Analytical Thesis: Analysis suggests that standardized testing in elementary and high school negatively impacts students' academic success.