This document outlines 5 different documentary genres: Reflexive, Observational, Expository, Poetic, and Participatory. Reflexive documentaries feature the filmmaker's presence and narratives. Observational documentaries follow events without acknowledgment of filming. Expository documentaries use voiceovers and multiple media to analyze topics. Poetic documentaries focus on human interests through unrelated shots. Participatory documentaries actively engage subjects through interviews and different media.

1. Documentary genres

2. ReflexiveReflexivedocumentaries are when the film maker acknowledges 'their presence' and so are in front of the camera and give narratives throughout.Typical conventions:Documentary maker’s presence is seenRe-enactments are often used as is dramatic musicSuggestive meanings and conclusions – not necessarily factVoiceovers are suggestive

3. Examples of Reflexive documentariesLouis Theroux's series of 'Law and Disorder in Philadelphia' in which you can clearly see him being followed by the film crew and interviewing/narrating throughout.Fearne Cotton’s series of ‘When Fearne Met...’ where Fearne meets different celebrities and follows them on their day to day lives.

4. ObservationalObservational documentaries follow a person orevent following their journey as an importantevent occurs.Typical Conventions:Filmed on-location (hand-held camera)Direct sound recording (synchronous)Documentary maker cannot be seenParticipants show no acknowledgment of being filmedShots are lengthy as camera is constantly recording

5. Examples of Observational DocumentariesExtraordinary people which follows people with strange features such as ‘Hayley: The 96 year old school girl’Cutting Edge: My New BrainOctomum which follows the mum who gave birth to 8 children16 and Pregnant

6. Expository Expository documentaries are an analysis and exposition of a person or topic. Typical Conventions:Voiceovers talk directly to audience'Voice of God' is used (when the commentator can be heard by not seen)'Voice of Authority' is used (when the commentator can be heard and seen)Images are used alongside the voiceoversDifferent media is used to support the arguments – interviews, images

7. Examples of expository documentaries:Michael Moore is a well known expository documentary maker with his most famous being Fahrenheit 9/11 and Capitalism: A Love Story

8. PoeticPoetic documentaries are normally about topics which focus on human interests rather than current affairs.Typical Conventions:Focus on human interestUn-related shots are often used and edited togetherDocumentary maker gives subjective view

9. Examples of poetic documentariesThe girl with 10 limbsMy girl has two heads

10. ParticipatoryIn Participatory documentaries the film-maker actively engages with the situation they are documenting, and often use and rely on witnesses of events.Typical Conventions:Documenter and film crew interact with subjectHand held camera – on location and so synchronous sound recordingLots of interviews used – however tend to be informalDifferent types of media are used such as pictures, news headlines, letters etc.Uses voiceovers