<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>In section 9.2.1 of the tutorial, at <a href="http://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/classes.html">http://docs.python.org/3/tutorial/classes.html</a>, the sample program does not work. The following is what happens when someone tries to type it in (I’m using IDLE for Python 3.3.2):<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>>>> def scope_test():<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> def do_local():<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> spam = "local spam"<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> def do_nonlocal():<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> nonlocal spam<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>SyntaxError: no binding for nonlocal 'spam' found<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This needs to be corrected, especially when you consider the poor explanations and lack of clarity throughout these tutorials and especially this chapter. I’m a professional programmer, and I’m still having a hard time following your tutorials.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>One of the biggest issues is that you’re trying to put too much detail into too few words. <b>Many</b> different facts are being thrown at absolute beginners all at once, with very little elaboration. Many of the details you’re trying to describe are not fully explained, causing critical gaps of information. You should do one of two things:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>1)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Expand your tutorials and elaborate more fully on what it is you’re trying to communicate, making sure that every detail is <b>completely</b> explained and well-defined.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoListParagraph style='text-indent:-.25in;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><![if !supportLists]><span style='mso-list:Ignore'>2)<span style='font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'> </span></span><![endif]>Remove many of the details that you’re getting sidetracked on, and re-invest that amount of space in the tutorials to more clearly explaining the parts of the language that are more central and important for a beginner who is studying the language for the first time.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Furthermore section 9.2 is using unorthodox terminology with little or no explanation, and it’s not very well-written in general. This section appears to be trying to explain a concept in overly complicated, “beat-around-the-bush” wording, and it’s not even doing that very well. It should be re-written from the ground up, and it should either use more standard terminology, or if unorthodox terminology is a necessity, provide a more thorough explanation of what that terminology means. Even for professional programmers, it is very hard to read and follow.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please understand that I am not trying to be overly negative or critical, but I do believe someone needs to go through the tutorial and look it over for things like this. Remember that some of the people reading this have no previous programming experience, and when it’s already difficult for professionals to follow, it would be almost impossible for them. Thank you.<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>