Guidelines are presented for the preparation of abstracts of technical literature on instructional systems development (ISD). Although specifically created for abstracting information during the preparation of a technical data file on ISD, the guidelines are sufficiently general to apply to other areas in which abstracts of technical literature are desired. For abstracting purposes, the literature is divided into Type I and Type II documents. The first category includes opinion articles, methodological developments, evaluative summaries, literature reviews, and bibliographies. The second category is composed of statistical sampling studies, correlational research, and research studies in which variables are manipulated. Both types of abstracts are prepared on the same general form, a sample of which is provided, along with examples of both types of abstracts. The sample form is designed to permit the most important characteristics of a document to be synthesized in a manner which facilitates the computerization of the technical data file. (Author)