python test chunking

authorial intent in theory perhaps.py

from unittest import TestCase


class TestThing(TestCase):

    def setUp(self):
        self.thing = do_a_thing()

    def test_foo(self):
        self.assertEqual(self.thing.foo, 'bar')

    def test_baz(self):
        self.assertEqual(self.thing.baz, 'quux')

    def test_arf(self):
        self.assertEqual(self.thing.arf, 'moo')

    # which is why the *class* is called "TestCase"


# other tests in other TestCases

what you write in practice.py

from unittest import TestCase


class TestSomething(TestCase):

    def test_thing(self):
        thing = do_a_thing()
        self.assertEqual(thing.foo, 'bar')
        self.assertEqual(thing.baz, 'quux')
        self.assertEqual(thing.arf, 'moo')

    # other tests in other test_* methods

Ok, so my "what i write in practice" is not uncommon. :-)