ArcGIS Desktop version 9 Introductory Tutorial
This is more of a book than a step by step but it is done so well that the site should be mentioned. Screenshots are provided and every little detail of this amazingly powerful software is explained in full. The tutorial is broken up into six sections, start off by getting familiar with what piece of software does what, to making and printing very intricate maps. This is chalked full of information provided in a manor that anyone, a beginner or an expert, could easily understand. Provided by the University of Arkansas Libraries, this is a must read for anyone going into GIS and topographical mapping.
>> http://libinfo.uark.edu/gis/tutorial.asp