This volume is a discussion of research that resulted in a system for developing task summaries for writers of soldier's manuals. It is intended for people who will evaluate the system and for developers of task performance instructions (TPI) and their supervisors. First, some problems with the soldier's manuals, the basic written instructions for performance of critical tasks in most Army jobs, are considered. Some of the findings of research on the design of printed instructions are then addressed. The three principles involved in the model for developing task summaries, called the TPI system, are described sequentially. They are relevance, directness, and sufficiency. A discussion follows of provision in the TPI system for considering the needs of particular kinds of readers. The method section discusses the way the TPI system was developed using an empirical, differential, and structural approach. A demonstration experiment to compare effectiveness of original and revised instructions is described in the final section. These results from the experiment involving instructions on filling out a standard maintenance form are reported: the revision reduced errors in checking entries by 64 percent, and people indicated greater confidence when following the revised instructions and found them much easier to understand. (YLB)