Toward Participatory Civic Engagement: Findings and Implications of a Three-Year Community-Based Research Study

This article presents findings from a three-year community-based research study in which a university writing center partnered with an adult education program and a state employment agency to develop online literacy resources housed on a widely used OWL. The resources were designed to help marginalized populations pass the writing section of the GED and compose cover letters and résumés. Findings indicate that the project helped researchers: (a) develop a close relationship with community partners; (b) compose deliverables that met partners’ needs; and (c) assist participants in improving their writing. Despite these results, however, participants’ limited adoption of the online material…