[Tutor] On understanding defintions

[frank ernest]

Opensuse 12.2 python3.2
 I discoverd that some of the examples for definitions in the tutorial are not valid. I am reporting this as a bug.
 In the mean time I tried to look up definitions in the Language Referance part of the python documentation but I'm still confused. The if, for, etc. are statements of evaluation, comparing one item to another; so what does that make definitions?
 What is self?
 How are definitions properly used?
 What are the mandetory parts?
 What are the optional parts? (in if statements the optional parts are or, and, elif, else, etc.)
 I also tried looking into the demos directory, I found lots of definitions but little help in understanding them.
 I am confused on all types of definitions not just functions or classes.
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