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.