I never had a set way of how to use my tarp. I made considerations for trees, land features, available materials and weather to help me decide how to set up my house. I'm a non-conformist so my shelter never resembled any of the patented designs here. But as Benjy says, it does demonstrate the "versatility" of ye olde tarpaulin.
For under $15 you can have a lightweight, durable, wind and rain shedding cover. A couple more dollars for twine and you're set. Want to stay for awhile and "home bum it"? Forget the twine, buy wire and make boobytraps with the leftover wire.