Abundances in Stars from the Red Giant Branch Tip to the Near the Main Sequence in M71: I. Sample Selection, Observing Strategy and Stellar Parameters

We present the sample for an abundance analysis of 25 members of M71 with luminosities ranging from the red giant branch tip to the upper main sequence. The spectra are of high dispersion and of high precision. We describe the observing strategy and determine the stellar parameters for the sample stars using both broad band colors and fits of H$\alpha$ profiles. The derived stellar parameters agree with those from the Yale$^2$ stellar evolutionary tracks to within 50 -- 100K for a fixed log g, which is within the level of the uncertainties.