DSP board TMDX5505EZDSP potentiometers and switches
Generally you connect the pot output to a A/D input.  The two ends of the pot go to the same power and ground that the microcontroller is connected to.  The wiper is connected to the A/D input.

The pot will produce a voltage anywhere from ground to power.  It should be possible to set up the A/D so that this range is full scale.  The pot position therefore sets the digital value coming out of the A/D.

The rest is software to do something with this digital value representing the pot setting.

One advantage of connection the pot ends to the same voltages as the A/D references is that the result becomes ratiometric.  Since both the pot input and the A/D conversion range come from the same voltages, these voltages cancel out.  You don't need a accurate reference or power supply.