This course introduces the dictionary data structure and user-defined functions. You’ll learn about local and global variables, optional and keyword parameter-passing, named functions and lambda expressions. You’ll also learn about Python’s sorted function and how to control the order in which it sorts by passing in another function as an input. For your final project, you’ll read in simulated social media data from a file, compute sentiment scores, and write out .csv files. It covers chapters 10-16 of the textbook “Fundamentals of Python Programming,” which is the accompanying text (optional and free) for this course.
Python Functions, Files, and Dictionaries
Python Functions, Files, and Dictionaries
This course is part of Python 3 Programming Specialization
Instructors: Paul Resnick
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4.8
(5,328 reviews)
Beginner level
No prior experience required
Flexible schedule
Approx. 41 hours
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What you'll learn
Explore the dictionary data structure and user-defined functions in Python.
Understand concepts like local and global variables, parameter-passing techniques, named functions, and lambda expressions.
Apply Python's sorted function and control sorting order with custom functions.
Create a final project involving social media data analysis and CSV file manipulation.
Skills you'll gain
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Taught in English
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This course is part of the Python 3 Programming Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
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There are 5 modules in this course
In week one the video lectures and the Runestone textbook will introduce you to the idea of incorporating files into your programs as an additional source of data. You will learn how to read from a file, write to a file, and how to work with the .csv data format.
What's included
20 videos3 readings1 programming assignment13 app items3 ungraded labs
In week two the video lectures and the Runestone textbook will focus on a new data type, dictionaries. You will be introduced to the mechanics of dictionaries and then get practice using them in accumulation patterns, both to build a dictionary using the pattern as well as find the best, or worst, result using the pattern.
What's included
15 videos2 programming assignments10 app items1 ungraded lab
In week three you will be introduced to the construction of functions. Up to this point, you have used functions in the programs before, but have not had a chance to write your own functions, including how to define a function, how to incorporate parameters, how to return data from a function, the local or global scope of variables, and potential side effects that could occur from function execution. Finally, we look at tuples more in depth, and how automatic packing and unpacking of tuples can be used in functions and in for loops.
What's included
19 videos2 programming assignments21 app items2 ungraded labs
In week four the video lectures and the Runestone textbook will outline a more advanced iteration mechanism, the while loop. You will be introduced to using it when getting feedback from users, as well as applying it to the turtle module to draw images. Additionally, you will also be exposed to more advanced function concepts such as the idea of parameters being optional, not required, and anonymous functions using lambda.
What's included
14 videos2 programming assignments13 app items3 ungraded labs
In week five the videos and Runestone textbook will detail how to sort python objects - both the basics and more advanced forms of sorting for dictionaries and how to break a tie (if that occurs). The final course assessment will be a project that asks you to read fake, auto-generated data from a social media site to analyze social media post sentiments. You will submit a csv file as well as images of graphs that demonstrate your findings.
What's included
16 videos3 readings2 programming assignments1 peer review7 app items1 ungraded lab
Instructors
Instructor ratings
4.8 (783 ratings)Offered by
Recommended if you're interested in Software Development
Rice University
University of Colorado Boulder
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4.8
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Showing 3 of 5328
ED
5
Reviewed on Jan 7, 2020
Very nice course, it could be a little bit challenging if you have no programming experience, but if you have done the past course and you put your attention you will definitely be able to pass it.
AD
5
Reviewed on Jun 29, 2022
Course Material and exercises provide excellent understanding and practice. I experienced some difficulty in the final project but that can be cleared once you consult the discussion forums.
DN
5
Reviewed on Jan 28, 2020
Great follow-on from the basics with essential information. Well constructed series, well presented lessons, with great practice questions. I feel a big step closer to writing useful python code.
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