Final Year Project Supervision – SS3 Computer Hardware & GSM Repair Lesson Note (Third Term)

A project proposal is a short document, usually one or two pages, that explains your project idea to your supervisor before you spend any money. It states the problem you found, how you plan to fix it, and the money and time you need. Once your supervisor approves it, you can officially begin your project.

Subject: Computer Hardware and GSM Repair
Class: SS3
Topic: Proposal Writing and Getting Your Project Approved

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• explain what a project proposal is and why it is written;
• list and describe the six parts of a good proposal;
• prepare for and behave properly in a meeting with a supervisor;
• state the main reasons a proposal is rejected and what to do afterwards;
• use a checklist to review a proposal before submission.

What is a project proposal?

Before you start soldering a motherboard or installing a server, you need permission. In the professional world, we call this a proposal.

Think of a proposal as a contract. It tells your supervisor: “This is the problem I found, this is how I want to fix it, and this is the money and time I will need.” If your proposal is clear and realistic, your supervisor will sign it, and you can officially begin. Without an approved proposal, you are just “playing” with tools. With one, you are doing a project.

Why do we write a proposal?

• To avoid waste: Your supervisor might see a mistake in your plan before you start. It is better to change a word on paper than to burn a ₦20,000 chip.
• To get advice: Your supervisor has years of experience. They might suggest a better tool or a faster way to reach your goal.
• To prove you are ready: It shows you have done your research and you are not just guessing.

What are the parts of a good proposal?

A professional proposal should follow a simple structure. You do not need “big grammar”. You just need to be clear.

1. Project title: What is the name of your work? (e.g., “Design and Implementation of a Small Office Wireless Network”).
2. Problem statement: What is wrong that needs fixing? (e.g., “Many students lose their data when their phone falls in water because they don’t know how to clean the motherboard.”).
3. Objectives: What do you want to achieve? Use “To” verbs (e.g., “To identify short circuits on a water-damaged board,” “To recover lost files”).
4. Methodology: How will you do it? What steps will you take?
5. Required materials: List the tools and parts you need to buy or borrow.
6. Expected outcome: What will the final result look like? (e.g., “A fully functional smartphone with all original data recovered”).

How do you get your proposal approved?

Getting approval is a conversation as well as a hand-over of paper.

Before the meeting

• Double-check your facts: If you say you need a specific IC chip, make sure you know where to buy it and how much it costs.
• Be ready for questions: Your supervisor will ask: “Why this project?” or “What will you do if this part is unavailable?” Do not be afraid. They are testing your thinking and are not trying to fail you.

During the meeting

• Take notes: If the supervisor suggests a change, write it down immediately.
• Be flexible: If they say your project is “too big”, listen to them. It is better to do a small project perfectly than a huge project that never works.

Why do supervisors reject proposals?

Usually, a supervisor says “No” for three reasons:

1. Vague ideas: If you say “I want to fix computers,” that is too broad. Which computer? What fault?
2. Too expensive: If your project costs ₦200,000 and you do not have the money, it cannot be approved.
3. Safety risks: If your project involves dangerous high-voltage electricity without the right safety gear, it will be rejected for your protection.

The fix: If you get rejected, do not be discouraged. Ask: “Sir/Ma, what part should I change to make this work?” Then go back, edit the proposal and resubmit it.

What should you check before submission?

Before you submit your final proposal for the “Approved” stamp, check these:

• Is my name and class clearly written?
• Did I include a simple budget?
• Is the vocabulary simple enough for anyone to understand?
• Have I checked the spelling of technical terms (like oscilloscope or transistor)?

Evaluation

1. What is a project proposal?
2. List the six parts of a good proposal.
3. What is the difference between an objective and a methodology?
4. Why should you always include a list of “Required materials” in your proposal?
5. State the three common reasons a supervisor rejects a proposal.

Assignment

1. Draft a project title for a repair job you would like to do as your final project.
2. A supervisor tells you your project is “too simple for an SS3 student.” How would you improve it to make it more advanced?