Narrative Structure

Types of narrative structure:

• Open - There are questions left unanswered at the end so the audience is left to make up their own mind about the issue.
• Closed - There are no loose ends, everything is tied up at the end, there is a definite ending. e.g. 9/11 documentaries have a clear ending.
• Linear - Programme is in chronological order such aas 9/11 documentaries.
• Non-Linear - There is no chronological order. Time is disrupted in some way, e.g. flashbacks.
• Single Strand - There is only one narrative thread (storyline).
• Multi-Strand - More than one narrative thread in the same programme. These may overlap. E.g. Corrination Street
• Circular - At the start a question is posed. The narrative explores the question then returns to it at the end. E.g. at the end the programme returns back to the question posed at the start.

Documentaries can be a combination of the above.