new and improved paper outline

INTRODUCTION:

-what I am doing (thesis statement): examining what has already been found on the use of internet technologies and activist groups, then using this knowledge to research/analyze the unexplored use of internet technologies by student activist groups on university campuses largely by examining the particular efforts of the ASU chapter of United Students Against Sweatshops

-what my paper will look like:
*(review of literature)
-overlook of what has already been written/researched about cyberactivism
-what's not been looked at?--->cyber student activism
-what has already been written/researched about student activism
-now what remaining questions should be addressed? one big question?
*(methodology)
-examination largely of National and ASU chapter (via my participation, examination) of
United Students Against Sweatshops
*(findings, conclusion)


REVIEW OF LITERATURE:
*brief history of activism and the accompanying development of its uses of technology
*cyberactivism studies: -transnational, national, local (very little) case studies
- analysis of successful enhancement and hindrances
-look at more broad theories on internet usage: successful communication? democratic?
-how is the definition(s) of activism changing due to the expanded use of internet technologies
*privacy and surveillance

***but there's a specific branch of activism that generally (and specifically in this study of the use of internet technology) is largely overlooked: student activism
*student activism studies (brief history?)
*writings on academic freedom, free speech and surveillance in the new millennium (particularly in the wake of September 11th)
*BUT NOW--->where's the writing on cyber student activism? do students on university campuses use internet technology in the same ways as other activist groups? do they follow different rules concerning the internet? do they get the same results when they use the internet? do differences in the groups' targets exist or matter?
*BIG QUESTION: How is internet technology particularly affecting student activism on university campuses?


METHODOLOGY: (focus on narrative aspects here especially)
*what methods/theories will I use to approach this question? (still pondering particulars here)
*history of USAS as a national organization; development of internet usage
*history of USAS as an ASU chapter; development of internet usage
(use of group timeline to locate the chronology of internet usage; personal participation; interviews with other members; national website; current development of wiki on wetpaint)
* -also, (hopefully) look at other USAS chapters' experiences on different campuses
-also, (hopefully) look at other activist groups' experiences at ASU
-also, (hopefully) the stance held by ASU administration on surveillance, internet policies, and
their experience as a target by activist groups particularly via internet technologies


FINDINGS: (of course, tentative)
*just as student activism is different from off-campus, non-university affiliated activism, cyber student activism is different from off-campus, non-university affiliated cyber activism
*differences:
-resources (available technology, money, knowledge (of internet, activism theory, etc), expertise, etc
-regulations (different rules and surveillance for students with university webspace)
-communal living situation
-constituency (not as diverse some aspects? more diverse in others?
-targets
-goals/demands
*how is the definition(s) of student activism changing due to the expanded use of internet technologies


CONCLUSION: (again, tentative)
*thesis and main ideas restated briefly
*further questions (future of cyber student activism? should internet technologies be used more or less extensively by student activists?)
*call for more research (via more case studies? looking more at student activism in general? more at unexplored aspects of cyber activism? more at local cyber activism? individual cyber activism? cyber activism by high school groups/individuals?)

updated abstract

Developing internet technologies are drastically changing the mobilization capabilities and aims of social movements. International activist groups are experiencing the largely complementary aspects of internet usage, and coping with the conflicting issues which continue to arise with the evolution of advanced networking tools. Particular relevance concerning the impact of internet technologies on university campuses in the United States, specifically regarding activist’ efforts, has been examined through research analysis and personal experience with the Appalachian State University chapter of the United Students Against Sweatshop movement. This case study provides a uniquely small-scale, student-led organizational perspective to the ongoing discourse of this dynamic relationship between the internet and activism with respect to its presence in the interaction of pertinent historical institutions.