Half Walls or Short Walls
Pull a construction straight-line or a chalk line tight from end to end, make sure it is not sagging in the middle, if it is then prop a board under it, then cut it until the string is straight, or use nails to prop the string on. It is very important that these walls are perfectly straight on top because they will be in your line of sight when you sit on a couch or something down stairs. Make sure your wall is as tall or taller then the highest point of your concrete half walls. Plate and detail two plates for your half wall. ( cut plates a little short on the first wall to allow it to plumb up in between the two concrete walls. Concrete walls will ofter lean in or out depending on which way they were moved to make the top square. ) Put both plates on your line. Measure on every layout, to the string, to get your stud lengths, stepping down on the plates at the same time, to push the plate into any depressions in the concrete. Make sure you lay the cut studs on the layout that you measured it for so they do not get mixed up. This will ensure that the top of the wall is straight as the string. 
Fastening To Concrete
To fasten your half wall to the concrete half wall, you cut some blocks and nail them to the concrete, leaving enough room for the framed half wall to reach plumb. Then you plumb the framed wall both ways and nail to your blocks. ( make sure you nail the framed wall down to your snapped line, before you plumb it.) 
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