Place the ruler in the center of the paper and trace the edge of the ruler down the paper with the pencil to draw a line dividing the paper into two sections.
Label the left section "Pros" and label the right section "Cons." Remember, pros are the good things about the decision you are trying to make and the cons are the bad things. For example, if you are trying to decide if you should go for that job promotion at work then the pros section could include such things as "More Pay" and "Better Job Title." However, the cons section could include things such as "Less time with family," "More time at work," "More job-related stress."
List your "pros" in the left section and list your "cons" in the right section. Number each entry; this will make the difference in pros and cons quicker to identify. List your pros and cons to make your decision based on facts and not emotional preconceptions. List what you know to be true for the pros and cons, not what you feel could be true. For example, if you are making a pros and cons list to decide if you should work at a company that your father and grandfather have both worked at their whole lives, or if you should work at a different company, you may have a biased opinion toward the company your family works for, swaying your judgment on what is actually a pro and con.