• Try and avoid using a three-pronged thesis statement. Experienced,
creative writers aim to make a general claim and avoid the standard
“five paragraph essay.”
Expository (Explanatory) Thesis Statements
An expository paper explains something to the reader. An expository thesis
statement details:
1. What you are going to explain
2. The categories you are using to organize your explanation
3. The order in which you will be presenting your categories
Example: The primary habits of barn owls include hunting for insects and
animals, building nests, and raising their young.
Questions to ask yourself when writing an expository thesis statement:
• What am I trying to explain?
• How can I categorize my explanation into different parts?
• In what order should I present the different parts of my explanation?
Analytical Thesis Statements
An analytic paper breaks down an issue or an idea into its component parts
and evaluates the issue or idea for the reader. An analytical thesis explains:
1. What the paper will analyze
2. The parts of your analysis the reader should expect
3. The order in which the analysis will be presented
Example: An analysis of barn owl flight behavior reveals two kinds of flight
patterns: patterns related to hunting prey and patterns related to courtship.
Questions to ask yourself when writing an analytical thesis statement:
• What did I analyze?
• What did I discover in my analysis?
• How can I categorize my discoveries?
• In what order should I present my discoveries?
Argumentative Thesis Statements
An argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim
with reasons and evidence. This claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal,
an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation.