There are several types of narrative structures that can be used in documentaries. A closed narrative has a clear beginning, middle, and end with no loose ends. An open narrative leaves some questions unanswered and has no defined ending. A linear narrative presents events in chronological order, while a non-linear narrative jumps between scenes and times. Documentaries can also have single or multi-strand narratives focused on one or multiple characters, and can use circular or restricted/unrestricted narrative forms.

1. Narrative structure

2. What is a Narrative?
Narrative is the way the different
elements in a story are organised to
make a meaningful story
The way the meanings are constructed
so the audience understands
There is a beginning, middle and end

3. Open Narratives
The documentary ends with
unanswered questions leaving the
audience to answer
There’s no sense of ending
This type of narrative will leave
answer that need to be complete
which therefore leaves the
documentary on a cliff hanger and
leaves the audience wondering.
More than one story happening at a
time
e/g coronation street

4. Closed Narratives
There are no loose ends
The documentary has a clear conclusion and has
answered all questions
The audience is aware that they are watching a
complete story, so watching with the likely ending
in mind
Small number of central characters
Characters are arranged in a hierarchy of importance
The audience is invited to make verdicts on the
characters
Times and events are usually special to this particular
story and not liked to the outside world
e/g Most Evil

5. Linear Narrative
This type of documentary follows a
timeline of events and the different
pieces of the documentary are shown
chronologically
Most simple and commonly used narrative
structure, it refers to a story that is told in
the order in which the events happen
These are sometimes referred as ‘cause
and effect’ narratives as the
consequences of one event having an
effect on something else and things
moving along in this linear
e/g The Most Hated Family In America

6. Non – Linear Narrative
There is no order to what is shown in
the documentary.
It will often jump from scene to scene
leaving you on a cliff hanger from the
scene you have viewed
e/g Out My Window

7. Single Strand
It’s focused on just one character
Therefore, the protagonist/ antagonist is
clear in the documentary as it is that
person that the main attention is on

8. Multi Strand
When there is more than one narrative
strand being told in the documentary
and they can sometimes overlap
A soap can use multi strand because it
can end one story and begin another
without confusing the audience
e/g Holby City, The Bill

9. Circular Narrative
This is where the documentary starts
and joins on the same point
The audience are taking on a journey,
arriving back where they started.

10. Unrestricted Narrative
What the audience are assumed to
know
e/g a thriller, there will be a crime so
they will expect it
Restricted Narrative
The information is withheld
from the audience