Stiltzkin

My political science group had to put together a 16-page paper on homeland security. The group consists of six people; first four pages are pure information; last 12 pages are two pages worth of opinion from each group member (6x2=12).
One of our outstanding group members took a LOT of initiative to bug the hell out of the professor to make sure that we were doing everything just right (the prof is being insanely picky about sources and citation). She also put together all our papers and went in and actually read our extremely boring papers and fixed all the errors in them. Basically... she did 40% of the total work, I'd say. That means that amongst the rest of us only did about 12% of the work each.
At least three of us think we need to do something nice for her, 'cause damn she worked hard. The thing is that we need some ideas for what we can do for her to show our appreciation, 'cause we really do appreciate all the extra work she did.
So how about it? Any ideas?

I don't know what she likes. All I know about her is that she was in the army, and she has a daughter.

k925

If you can stand being around her (by your description, she sounds like a controling workaholic), offer to take her out to a nice dinner or lunch before or after class at a place near campus. If each of you chip in for her meal, it'll be only a few bucks on top of your own meal and she'll get a free dinner or lunch. Everybody likes food!

If you'd rather not spend any time with her outside of class, and she commutes a long way to get to class, you could each chip in toward a gift card for gasoline (since nobody likes paying for it these days).

If all else fails, I'd at least write her a meaningful thank-you note inside of a card you actually buy at the store (like Hallmark). Just remember it's the thought that counts, but you have to tell her in words how much you've really thought about it in order for her to actually care!

I personally wouldn't get her anything. I'd just thank her for her extra work, but mention that it really wasn't necessary and I that would've been happy with whatever grade I would've recieved for my own work. Maybe it's just me, but I get a little annoyed when people try to improve my work. How can you improve perfection?

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BigBen

She was in the Army?

Find out what her favorite booze is (this is not as easy as it sounds)

Then buy her a bottle.

That is the standard way to pay an Army Guy back for doing you a solid.

You are not allowed to say "What kind of booze do you like?" or some shit like that. You are also not allowed to ask if she would like a bottle as a gift. The form answer to that is "You don't have to get me anything..."

On the off chance she doesn't drink (Army? I don't think so but I've seen it) then you go the nice meal route.

Both of you are starving students and you can't afford a bottle? Then take her to a liscenced establishment and buy a few rounds instead.

Booze brother, you can't go wrong with the booze.

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crapshoot

Buy her a nice gift card to a restaurant. I would make sure it is enough for her and her daughter to use. $25 at a place like Applebees or Ruby Tuesday should do nice. That way she does not have to worry about cooking dinner one night.

joemc91

The gift certificate idea is great, especially if her daughter can go too.

la petite moi

A thank-you card with a message saying that the whole group would like to take her out for all of her outstanding work, and for a celebratory dinner since that damned paper is finished!

Everyone can pitch in some money for their own meal, plus a little each for her meal, so she won't need to pay. Then, pretend it's her birthday so she can get a free dessert (hehehehe).

Not only is this great for her, but for everyone in the group because it's a celebration!

Stiltzkin

To respond to some of the comments:
No, she's not a mean controlling bitch or anything like that. She's actually extremely nice, very considerate, funny, and just an all-around cheerful person; she's all of that in spite of the horror stories she's told us about being in the army (she was actually on a battle field somewhere). And k925, I completely understand what you mean by other people improving on your work and all that. I'd have to agree with you except that chemistry is kicking my ass so hard that I have little time to really focus on my other classes, so when another person can pick up that slack... well that's all right with me.

BigBen, I like your advice but the troulbe is only two people in the group are old enough to "go out drinking" and I'm not one of them

I came up with the same idea La Petite Moi did and it's on the table right now, I'm just waiting to see what everyone else says. I also really like crapshoot's idea. We'll probably end up doing one of the two.

k925

Nice to hear she's not that type!
It's also nice when someone can take the time that you can't afford and improve on what you couldn't perfect. You're in a much better situation than I first assumed- way to score getting in her group!

Awesone idea, but watch out- they might ID her!

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I can has furburger?