Place the compass on a steady surface. Allow the magnetic needle to stabilize and gently rotate the compass until the needle points to the north. Form a line parallel to the needle on a paper with the help of a ruler.
Form a line parallel to the needle on a paper with the help of a ruler. If you are using a map, draw a line beginning from your spot and pointing north with a pencil. This is the first vertex of your angle.
Draw the second vertex, starting from the bottom end of the first line and pointing towards your point of interest.
Place the middle point of the protractor's flat side -- easily distinguishable on every protractor -- right on the angle. Align the straight line of the protractor on the north-pointing vertex and measure the angle.