1. A Suggested Approach to Help Organize
the Issues and the Participants
• All participation is anonymous and simultaneous, so no cross-influences can exist. Results are seen
immediately by all, so transparency is guaranteed.
• First slide helps establish which stage of engagement each participant has progressed to:
1. Information gathering
2. Initial ‘gut’ or ‘emotive’ reaction
3. Analytic consideration/comparison
4. Opinion formation/ Action decision
• The following two slides allow dynamic input to define the nature of expectations of the participants.
The volunteered topics are recorded, then scored for importance by the entire group. This helps
assure that subsequent small group deliberation is focused on what really matters to them.
• The content comes from the participants. Slides 3 and 4 could each generate a dozen or more different
thoughts for the participants to score.
• Most important topics become the subjects for the breakout groups. Groups could take on a couple of
related topics, if desired. People can volunteer to group topics that matter most to them.
• Quickly allows the large group to discover, and demonstrate to each other, what matters most, and go
to work on it.
• Eliminates shouting matches, bogus claims of representation, red herrings
• Establishes a clear pattern and plan for civil, organized, productive participation
• NOTE: Participants will rightfully expect to know what will happen with the results of the day’s work.

2. How Familiar Are You With the
Discussion Regarding Independence?
1. I’ve heard a little about it 25% 25% 25% 25%
and want to know more
2. I am interested in the
question but unsure about
what it might mean
3. I follow it closely and think
about it carefully
4. I am a strong advocate
regarding this question
.. .
..
...
...
c l.
al
te
ng
es
it
d
o
ar
w
r
str
te
lo
he
in
a
ol
e
m
m
If
I’v
Ia
Ia

3. What Are Your Greatest Hopes Regarding Such a
Change?
(List, then everyone scores them)
1. Free Scottish flag for everyone
2. Fewer annoying cricket stories 11% 11% 11% 11% 11% 11% 11% 11% 11%
in the papers
3. Etc
4. etc
5. etc
6. Etc
7. etc
8. etc
9. etc
c
c
..
c
c
c
c
c
...
Et
Et
et
et
et
et
et
g.
h
yin
tis
no
ot
Sc
an
ee
er
Fr
w
Fe

4. What Are Your Greatest Concerns Regarding
Such a Change?
(List, then everyone scores them.)
1. Choice One
2. Choice Two 11% 11% 11% 11% 11% 11% 11% 11% 11%
3. Choice Three
4. Choice Four
5. Choice Five
6. Choice Six
7. Choice Seven
8. Choice Eight
Six
t
r
o
ee
e
ne
e
n
h
u
Fiv
On
Tw
ve
Fo
Eig
Ni
r
ce
Th
Se
ce
ce
ce
9. Choice Nine ce
oi
ce
ce
ce
oi
ce
oi
oi
oi
Ch
oi
oi
oi
Ch
oi
Ch
Ch
Ch
Ch
Ch
Ch
Ch

5. Example Scoring Output: List of landscape items scored for
significance regarding landscape impacts of electric transmission
lines. (Here, two subgroups’ scores also shown)
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Human School National Hospital Church Wild and Public Threatened Picnic area Golf course
Habitation Properties scenic river campground and
Register endangered
habitat
Global Impedance Value Power Professionals' Impedance Non-Power Professionals' Impedance

6. Top Ten (?) Topics/Groups
Choose Your Topical Group
• Topic 1 (top score)
• Topic 2 (next highest score)
• Etc.