A sample agenda for this meeting follows.

1. Subject: the organizer explains that the subject of the meeting is to be the focus skill APC, which stands for Alternatives, Possibilities and Choices. The emphasis is on generating alternatives - alternative ways of looking at things, alternative ways of doing things.
time for this explanation 2-3 minutes.

2. First practice: each individual works on his or her won to offer alternative explanations for what is described under the 'subject' heading. Time allowed is two minutes. At the end of that time the individuals come together to compare their explanations.
Subject: 'Early one morning a woman is seen to be burying three red socks in the garden, each sock in a separate hole. What alternative explanations could there be?'
working time: 2 minutes, feedback time: 4 minutes, total: 6 minutes.

3. Second practice: the group splits into three pairs. Each pair works for three minutes to generate as many approaches as possible for the given task. At the end of the time the pairs come together to compare notes.
Subject: 'find different ways of measuring the total amount of fluid which a person drinks in twenty-four hours.'
working time: 3 minutes, feedback time: 4 minutes, total: 7 minutes.

4. Third practice: the group sits together. The organizer goes round the circle asking each individual in turn for an alternative. If an individual cannot find a further alternative then he or she 'passes' and it becomes the next person's turn. When more than three people pass one after the other it is thrown open to further alternatives from anyone in the group.
Subject: 'Find alternative ways of saving energy either in the house or in general. This refers to the sort of energy that has to be paid for.'
time allowed: up to 8 minutes, then a cut-off.

5. Fourth practice: two groups of three work to suggest alternative courses of action in the given situation. At the end of three minutes the groups compare their alternatives.
Subject: 'A father finds that his eighteen-year-old son has taken the family car and sold it to pay some desperate debts. The son reveals who has bought the car. What alternative courses of action are open to the father?'
Working time: 3 minutes, feedback time: 4 minutes, total: 7 minutes.

6. Discussion section: this would cover points raised in the relevant section of this book and also points such as the following:
When do we look for alternatives and when do we not?
What are the dangers in always looking for alternatives?
Why is it sometimes difficult to find alternatives?
Should all alternatives be listed, even the unlikely ones?
How broadly should alternatives be grouped?
Are the alternatives all in the same direction or each in a different direction?
Total time: 10 minutes with sharp cut-off.

7. Fifth practice: the group works as a whole. Two minutes' individual thinking time is given first. Then the organizer goes around the group getting from each member an alternative for each of the items given in the subject list. That alternative must perform the same function.
Subject: 'Alternatives that could perform same function as ladder, cup, dog, key, window.'
individual thinking time: 2 minutes, feedback: 4 minutes, total: 6 minutes.

8. Sixth practice: the group works as a whole to come up with alternative approaches to the problem given. These approaches are then sorted into some broad groupings.
Subject: 'Alternative approaches to the problem of the increase in street crime. Note that an approach does not mean finding a solution but includes ways of tackling or looking at the problem.'
time: 7 minutes.

9. Practice items: Each individual spends two minutes designing a 'practice item' which could be used in a similar session on the APC focus skill. There should be of both the 'fun' and the 'serious' type. These are discussed and the note-taker collects them for the stockpile.
thinking time: 2 minutes, feedback time: 2 minutes.

10. End of session: Notice of time and subject of next session.

As before, the overall timing should be adhered to even if this means shortening the time allowed for each item. In particular feedback time should not be allowed to over-run. The practice item generation at the end can be dropped is there is insufficient time.