def METHOD_NAME(msg, contents, status="None"):
    """
    helper method to ensure files or dirs
    are either present or removed
    """
    for content in contents:
        log.debug("CONTENT %s", content)
        if status == "present":
            check_job_dir = os.path.exists(content)
        elif status == "removed":
            if os.path.exists(content):
                check_job_dir = False
            else:
                check_job_dir = True
        assert check_job_dir, msg + content