When you write a compare and contrast essay, you need to decide whether you will use an evaluative thesis or an explanatory thesis. . An evaluative thesis reflects an opinion or judgment about the two things being compared. An explanatory thesis compares two subjects without taking a stance. Consider the following thesis statement: Although authoritative parenting and permissive parenting each have advantages and disadvantages, permissive parenting is widely believed to be a more successful approach. The thesis statement above is an example of: an evaluative thesis statement an explanatory thesis statement