This document outlines five modes of documentary filmmaking: observational, expository, participatory, reflexive, and performative. It provides examples and descriptions of each mode. For expository documentaries, it notes they directly address the viewer with commentary and propose arguments to persuade. News shows are summarized as including a studio news reader, field reporters, report structure, and actual footage. Participatory documentaries involve the filmmaker interacting with subjects through formal interviews and archive materials. Reflexive documentaries acknowledge the filmmaker's presence and construction of the narrative. Observational documentaries simply follow people to observe events unfolding without voiceover.