A documentary aims to document real events using actual footage or reconstruction. It can use a narrator's voiceover or rely on participant interviews to provide context. There are several styles of documentaries including fully narrated, observational, mixed, self-reflexive, docu-drama, and docu-soap. Documentaries typically use techniques like observation footage, interviews, drama/reconstruction, and exposition to advance their narrative while acknowledging their constructed nature.

2. The purpose of a documentary is to document i.e
reporting with evidence that something that has actually
happened. It can show this by using actual footage or
reconstruction.
It can use a narrators voice over to anchor the meaning
or rely on the participants themselves with the odd
interaction by the unseen narrator.

3. Fully Narrated: An off screen voice over is used to make sense of the
visuals e.g. natural history documentaries.
The Fly on the wall: Has it’s roots in cinema vente, the camera set
observing the action. Participants do not acknowledge the presence of the
cinema.
Mixed: Using a combination of interviews, observation and narration to
advance the argument/ narrative.
Self reflexive: when the subjects of the documentary acknowledges the
presence of the camera and often speak directly to the documentary
makers.
Docu-drama: A reinactment of events as they are supposed to have
happened.
Docu-soap: They follow the daily lives of particular individuals within an
organisation.
The Celebrity Presented: Most recent development in a post digital age.
Working hard to greater audience.

4. John Corner: University of Liverpool
Observation:
- Most documentaries contain sequences of observation.
- Programmes makers pretend that the camera is unseen.
-Places the audiences in the position of an observer or an eye catching witness to events.
Interview:
- Documentaries rely on the interviews
- The interviewer is either seen or unseen.
- Mise-on-scene (all shots are carefully composed so that they only contain images they want the audiences to see)
Dramaisation:
-Documentaries use a sense of drama in the observational element.
-Sometimes dramatic reconstruction is used.
Exposition:
- The line of argument in a documentary.
- Exposition is made up of description which is continued until commentary.
Even when actuality footage is used people are directed and sets organised, so there is still a high level of
construction taking place.
Documentaries do not necessarily contain analysis. They may just be descriptive and may leave it to the viewer to
reach conclusion.