This report contains a description of the conceptual background and methodology for a study concerning how academic tasks are managed in senior high school classrooms. This high school study is Phase 2 of the Managing Academic Tasks (MAT) study. The MAT study is focused on understanding how curriculum experiences are shaped by the classroom environment and how teachers can enhance the quality of academic work at the secondary level. Special emphasis is given to classroom tasks involving comprehension and higher level cognitive processes, especially tasks requiring students to make decisions about how to use their knowledge and skills in particular situations. This report incorporates the experience of the earlier junior high school study and contains a description of (1) the intellectual foundations of the data collection; (2) the design of the study and the classes that are being observed; and (3) the methods used for gathering and analyzing data. Appendices contain illustrative materials, including (1) excerpts from the Topic List for MAT teachers, Grades 7 and 8; (2) excepts from the Task List for Grades 7 and 8; (3) illustrations of Task Analyses; and (4) an example of a Task System Summary. (PN)