[header] How to wire a potentiometer [title] Identify the 3 terminals on the pot. [step] Position the pot so that the shaft is facing up towards the ceiling and the 3 terminals are facing towards you. With the pot in this position, you can refer to the terminals from left to right as 1 , 2, and 3. 
Make a note of these labels, as it can be easy to lose track of them when repositioning your pot while working. [title] Ground the first terminal of the pot.