There are two main types of thesis statements: 1. A table of contents thesis explicitly lists the topics to be covered in each paragraph of the paper. 2. A general thesis broadly states the overall topic of the paper without specifying paragraph topics. The type of thesis used depends on factors like the instructor's preference, paper length, and the writer's organizational skills. A table of contents thesis works best for shorter papers, while a general thesis allows for more flexibility in longer papers. Proper theses guide the content and structure of the paper.