The purpose of this study was to review some of the criteria given by linguists for the development of language materials and to present a case for error analysis as a major criterion in the preparation of materials for the teaching of writing skills to Iranian freshman students. Chapter one reviews the major events and landmarks bearing upon the development of education and the learning of foreign languages in Iran. Chapter two deals with a review of the teaching of English in Iranian high schools and the English competency of freshman students at Iranian universities. In chapter three some of the criteria already presented by other linguists for the evaluation and presentation of teaching materials are considered. Chapter four is about the role of writing in foreign language education and how writing should be taught. Chapter five deals with an error analysis of a number of compositions written by Iranian freshman students and the preparation of relevant materials for the teaching of writing skills at the paragraph level. (Author/WR)