This document provides an analysis of the documentary structure, techniques, and themes in "The Last Chance School". It examines the documentary's single-stranded, linear narrative and how it resolves all questions by the end. Camera work includes establishing shots, selective focus, and handheld footage to make scenes feel realistic. Sound incorporates diegetic dialogue, non-diegetic music, and voiceover narration. Editing uses jump cuts and montages, while graphics display titles and identify pupils. Overall, the analysis describes how the documentary's form and style convey its examination of emotions, influences, and help for troubled youth.

1. Kate Constable

2. Type of documentary
 Docusoap: This is a documentary following
people in a particular occupation or location over
a period of time.
Themes
Anger
Emotions
TroubleInfluence
Help
Youth

3. Narrative structure
 Single stranded: All themes of the
documentary link together and flow nicely.
 Linear narrative: Events/scenes shown in
chronological order, helps audience
understand what's happening easier.
 Closed narrative: All questions asked
throughout the documentary are answered by
the end. Everything is resolved.

4. Camera work
 Establishing shots- Setting the scene for the
narrative.
 Low angle shots of principal, shows his power over the
others.
 Long shots of Junayd stood on his own- Emphasises
the theme of emotions- shows that he is quite lonely.
 Selective focus during some scenes helps the audience focus on the person that is
talking.
 Close ups of all the pupils in the school- helps the
audience see each other their expressions in certain
situations.
 Handheld footage- makes the scene more realistic for the audience.
 Over the shoulder shot- Whilst Cole or the other students are working- helps the
audience really get quite personal with the scene.

5. Mise En Scene
 Typical looking boarding school-
Follows stereotypical conventions
of boarding schools being old and
big.
 School uniforms: Polo shirts- not
like usual uniforms, shows that
they are a different type of school
 Male teachers in suits: Shows
their dominance.
 Real people & Real locations

6. Sound
 Diegetic sound: Dialogue- All very different aswell as the
boys accents- showing that their are students from all
around the country at that school.
 Shows the difference in each person
 ‘Voice of god narration’ as we cannot see the narrator.
 Non diegetic sound: Music is very calming & slow during the
more emotional parts: reflects the mood.
 Narration: Male narration- Conventional as men usually do
the narration for documentaries as they are apparently more
knowledgeable.

7. Editing & Graphics
Editing
 Jump cuts: Pieces the scenes together
 Montage: at the beginning, introducing each pupil and their
backgrounds.
Graphics
 “The Last Chance School” Starting title
 Name of the pupils on screen with their age: Gives the
audience a bit of information about them.
 Text at the end tells the audience what has happened to the
pupils after the documentary ended: Answers the questions
asked throughout. Includes a clip of what happened.