Based on both practical experience and theoretical studies, this manual provides the foundation for the design of effective distance education teaching materials. An overview presents an outline model of major design considerations for correspondence materials that provides a context for design decisions, with categories chosen to assist in the development of instructional materials, and discusses both external structural and internal functional factors. External structural factors include relatively intractable factors which limit an academic author's course of action, while internal functional factors include those considerations that reside with the materials themselves and must be handled systematically. The dichotomy between the two types of factors is examined. Specific external factors are discussed in individual chapters on budget, course function, available modes, subject characteristics, subject location, lecturer characteristics, student characteristics, and professional assistance. Specific internal factors discussed are arousal and motivation, goal definition, cognitive structuring, signposting, activation, feedback, transfer and retention, and assessment and evaluation. (LMM)