Types of Narrative Structures of Documentaries:

• Open- There are questions left unanswered at the end. The audience is left to make there own minds up, about the issue.
• Example: 'Assisted Suicide'.
• Closed- There are no loose ends, everything is tied up at the end, there is a definite ending.
• Example: '9/11 documentaries'.
• Linear- The documentary is in chronological order, where events occur in the time they did in real life. 
• Example: '9/11 documentaries'.
• Non-Linear- The events do not occur in chronological order, the events are out of sync with each other. 
• Example: The use of flashbacks.
• Single strand- There is only one narrative thread. Most documentaries are this type.
• Example: It only follows the life of one person, or event of or one animal.  
• Multi-strand- There is more than one narrative thread in the same programme. These may overlap and tie together at the end of the programme. Thre are documentaries with a central theme.
• Example: 'Dissabilities', but they follow different stories.
• Circular- At the start a question is asked, the narrative explores the question then returns to it at the end.
• Example: 'Topic Loop', The start and the end of the documentary are asking the same thing. 
• Visuals- Television is a visual medium. The programme needs to be visually stimulating, and maintain audiences interest. 
• Archive material- This would include the stock footage.
• Example: street scenes, countryside, motorways, cityskapes, football crowds, historical footage, extract from TV, film and radio, newspaper front pages etc. 
• Interviews- This is the most important aspect of a documentary. Interviews can be held anywhere but the mise on scene is important when relating to the topic or issue.
• Vox pops- This is short for 'Vox populis' which is the voice of the people. Ask one question to lots of people and then most interesting or entertaining to use in the programme it can get a good cross section of audience. 
• Voice Over- Can affect or alter the meaning., it anchors the meaning of the visuals and the voice over acts as glue holding the narrative together.
• Gate keeping- selection and reflection of informalities far from the programme.
• Construction of reality- By editing and gate keeping procedures contruct an artificial picture of reality.