When watching a documentary, unlike a fiction film, audiences expect that the places, characters, and/or events which occur in the film to be ‘real’ or to have occurred at some point in time. Documentaries claim to present accurate information which therefore leads the viewers to believe that what they are seeing is true. This is a result of genre and the expectations we have as viewers when watching films. We would not expect to be a horror film to make us laugh, and therefore, we expect documentaries to be factual to some degree. Furthermore, because of its genre, documentaries are often not influenced to the same extent as other films, by the filmmaker. The director cannot predict what the interviewee is going to say, and often they have no control over the setting or lighting. Although it is possible to ‘stage’ events, some see this as the director manipulating the film and thus becoming unrealistic. 

Just like other films, there are numerous different styles and ways of creating documentaries on of which is rhetorical. This particular form intends to present and argument and persuade viewers of something. This may be to adopt a specific way of thinking about an issue, or to take action regarding a social or environmental problem. There are four characteristics of the rhetorical form. First, that the contention of the film or argument is not a fact but a matter of opinion. Second, like in numerous Michael Moore documentaries, the filmmaker addresses the audience directly. Third, there is an emphases on opinions and beliefs regarding the overall topic being discussed, and lastly it asks you to take a side. Meaning, it guides you to support a particular point of view.