Python Projects for Beginners a ten-Week Bootcamp Approach to Python Programming

Lists and Loops
Throughout this week, I’ll be introducing a new data type called “lists” and a new concept called “loops.” Lists will give us the ability to store large sets of data, while loops will allow us to rerun sections of our code.
These two topics are being introduced together because lists work well with loops. Even though lists are one of the most important data types in Python, we needed to understand the basics of data types and branching statements before introducing them. By the end of the week, we’ll have the tools necessary to build a small-scale hangman game. We’ll use all the concepts that we’ve learned from previous weeks and this week.
Through application and repetition, you’ll be able to understand each concept further each time it’s introduced. If you don’t get a concept just yet, it’s important to keep pushing through and try not to get stuck on a single lesson.
Overview

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  Understanding list data types
  
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  How and why to use for loops
  
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  How and why to use while loops
  
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  Understanding how to work with lists
  
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  Creating Hangman together
  

CHALLENGE QUESTION
Imagine that you’re the mayor of a major city. For this example, let’s assume that the major city is Boston, MA. You’ve just been alerted that you need to evacuate the city. What do you do first?

© Connor P. Milliken 2020
C. P. Milliken, Python Projects for Beginners, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-5355-7_4
Monday: Lists
Today we’ll be introducing one of the most important data types in Python, the list. In other languages, they are also known as “arrays” and have similar characteristics. This is the first data collection that you learn. We’ll see other data collection types in later weeks.
To follow along with the content for today, let’s open up Jupyter Notebook from our
“python_bootcamp” folder. Once it’s open, create a new file, and rename it to “Week_04.” Next, make the first cell markdown that has a header saying: “Lists.” We’ll begin working underneath that cell.