To create static routes on a Cisco router, you use the ip route command followed by the destination network, network mask, and either the next-hop IP address or the local exit interface.  It's vital to keep that last part in mind - you're either configuring the IP address of the downstream router, or the interface on the local router that will serve as the exit interface.

Let's say your local router has a serial0 interface with an IP address of 200.1.1.1/30, and the downstream router that will be the next hop will receive packets on its serial1 interface with an IP address of 200.1.1.2/30.  The static route will be for packets destined for the 172.10.1.0 network.  Either of the following ip route statements would be correct.

R1(config)#ip route 172.10.1.0 255.255.255.0 200.1.1.2  (next-hop IP address)

OR


R1(config)#ip route 172.10.1.0 255.255.255.0 serial0      ( local exit interface)

You can also write a static route that matches only one destination.  This is a host route, and has 255.255.255.255 for a mask.  If the above static routes should only be used to send packets to 172.10.1.1., the following commands would do the job.

R1(config)#ip route 172.10.1.1 255.255.255.255 200.1.1.2  (next-hop IP address)

OR


R1(config)#ip route 172.10.1.1 255.255.255.255 serial0      ( local exit interface)

Finally, a default static route serves as a gateway of last resort. If there are no matches for a destination in the routing table, the default route will be used.  Default routes use all zeroes for both the destination and mask, and again a next-hop IP address or local exit interface can be used.

R1(config)#ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0 200.1.1.2  (next-hop IP address)

OR


R1(config)#ip route 0.0.0.0 0.0.0.0  serial0      ( local exit interface)