In this course we will focus on the contemporary short story, with a particular focus on how certain key practitioners are reshaping narrative form in response to historical and political urgencies. We will focus on grasping the particular economy of social observation and historical argument that drive the most provocative contemporary short stories. Students will be expected to read closely, to participate in class discussion, and, at times, to work collaboratively on special exercises. Two papers required. Authors in the course packet may include Alice Munro, Junot Diaz, Annie Proulx, Steven Millhauser, Yiyun Li, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Charles Saunders.