Identify and explain the two types of thesis statements.

There are two major types of thesis statements: explanatory and argumentative. The explanatory thesis announces the subject to the reader; it never declares a stance which needs an argument to defend. These explanatory theses are evident in expository essays and research essays. In an argumentative essay, the thesis statement should be a claim, not a factual statement or a personal response to a topic. It should be an idea that provokes opposition, a claim that readers might choose to refute.

Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information:

The first type of thesis statement is the "working thesis statement." The working statement is used during the research process and is a changeable focus for your research. The second type of thesis statement is the "final thesis statement." This is a statement that appears in the final essay and makes a conclusion about the topic presented.