TYPES OF NARRATIVE STRUCTURE.

• Open - There are questions left unanswered at the end. The audience is left to make there own minds up, about the issue. e.g. - assisted suicide.
  • OR
  • Closed - No lose ends everything is tied up at the end there is a definite ending. e.g. - 9/11 documentaries.
  • Linear - The programme is in chronological order. i.e order of time. e.g. - 9/11 documentaries.
    OR
  • Non-Linear - The programme is not in chronological order. Time is disruppted in some way. e.g. - flashback. 
  • Single strand - Only one narrative thread or storyline.
    OR
  • Multi-strand - More than one narrative in the same programme. May overlap.
  • Circular - At the start a question is posed the narrative explores the question then returns to it at the end. i.e - at the end the programme returns to the question posed at the start.
  • Visuals - Television is a visual medium. The programme needs to be visually stimulating, and maintain audiences interest. 
  • Archive material - Stock footage e.g. street scenes, countryside, motorways, cityskapes, football crowds.
    -Historical footage.
    -Extract from TV, film and radio.
    -Newspaper front pages.
  • Interviews - The important aspect of a documentary. They can be held anywhere but mise on scene is important relating the interview to the topic/issue.
  • Vox pops - (vox populis) voice of the people. Ask one question to lots of people and then most interesting/entertaining to use in the programme it can get a good cross section of audience.