The document defines different types of narrative structures for documentaries: linear follows events chronologically, non-linear segments by topic rather than time, and circular starts and ends in the present. It also distinguishes open from closed narratives based on resolving the issue or leaving questions unanswered, and single-stranded narratives that focus on one broad topic versus multi-stranded narratives that cover multiple different topics.

1. NARRATIVE
STRUCTURE

2. What is meant by the term narrative?
The way a media product is
structured and organised in
order to make sense to an
audience.

3. Linear, Non-linear and Circular
Linear
The structure of the
documentary
follows in
chronological order.
Non-linear
Structure is not in
chronological
order, it is
segmented by
topic.
Circular
The documentary starts
where it ends, for example
starting in present day, then
talking about the past
throughout the
documentary, then ending in
present day.

4. Open and Closed
Open Closed
The documentary ends
with unanswered
questions or the issue of
the documentary is not
resolved and is on-going.
The documentary answers
all questions and during
the time it is aired there is
nothing more to say on
the topic.

5. Single-stranded and Multi-stranded
Single-stranded
The documentary
focuses on one broad
topic, rather than lots of
different topics.
Multi-stranded
The documentary focuses
on lots of different topics,
rather than one topic.