diff --git a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/__init__.py b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/__init__.py
index 6b6edda4c4..e8dc7ab1d8 100644
--- a/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/tests/__init__.py
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ def get_test_system(course_id=SlashSeparatedCourseKey('org', 'course', 'run')):
         render_template=mock_render_template,
         replace_urls=str,
         user=user,
-        get_real_user=lambda(__): user,
+        get_real_user=lambda __: user,
         filestore=Mock(name='get_test_system.filestore'),
         debug=True,
         hostname="edx.org",
@@ -378,11 +378,17 @@ class CourseComparisonTest(BulkAssertionTest):
         )
 
     def assertBlocksEqualByFields(self, expected_block, actual_block):
+        """
+        Compare block fields to check for equivalence.
+        """
         self.assertEqual(expected_block.fields, actual_block.fields)
         for field in expected_block.fields.values():
             self.assertFieldEqual(field, expected_block, actual_block)
 
     def assertFieldEqual(self, field, expected_block, actual_block):
+        """
+        Compare a single block field for equivalence.
+        """
         if isinstance(field, (Reference, ReferenceList, ReferenceValueDict)):
             self.assertReferenceRelativelyEqual(field, expected_block, actual_block)
         else:
@@ -436,6 +442,9 @@ class CourseComparisonTest(BulkAssertionTest):
                     self._assertCoursesEqual(expected_items, actual_items, actual_course_key, expect_drafts=True)
 
     def _assertCoursesEqual(self, expected_items, actual_items, actual_course_key, expect_drafts=False):
+        """
+        Actual algorithm to compare courses.
+        """
         with self.bulk_assertions():
             self.assertEqual(len(expected_items), len(actual_items))
 
diff --git a/common/test/data/aside/policies/2012_Fall.json b/common/test/data/aside/policies/2012_Fall.json
index c3ba2f869e..4a59afde57 100644
--- a/common/test/data/aside/policies/2012_Fall.json
+++ b/common/test/data/aside/policies/2012_Fall.json
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
         "graceperiod": "2 days 5 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds",
         "start": "2015-07-17T12:00",
         "display_name": "Toy Course",
-        "graded": "true",
+        "graded": "true"
     },
     "tabs": [
           {"type": "courseware"},
@@ -19,5 +19,5 @@
     },
     "html/secret:toylab": {
         "display_name": "Toy lab"
-    },
+    }
 }
diff --git a/common/test/data/xml_dag/policies/2012_Fall.json b/common/test/data/xml_dag/policies/2012_Fall.json
index 82bfa20787..a135872075 100644
--- a/common/test/data/xml_dag/policies/2012_Fall.json
+++ b/common/test/data/xml_dag/policies/2012_Fall.json
@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@
         "graceperiod": "2 days 5 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds",
         "start": "2015-07-17T12:00",
         "display_name": "Toy Course",
-        "graded": "true",
+        "graded": "true"
     }
 }