The History and Literature Department will change the content of its December discussion groups, William R. Taylor '43, Chairman of the Board of Tutors in that Department, revealed yesterday.

Taylor characterized the change as more of a "horse trade" than a major policy change. Last year the juniors read Thucydides, while under the new plan the sophomores will read him. Juniors will read some major work in their field of specialization.

The History and Literature discussions are held annually during the last two weeks before Christmas vacation. Tutorial is suspended and concentrators are organized into groups of four or five students. Each group, supervised by two tutors, discusses some major work.

Concentrators Protest

Several History and Literature concentrators have protested that the works now assigned for various fields were already covered extensively in courses or tutorial. They feel, for example, that most concentrators in English History and Literature are familiar with Words-worth's Preludes, the book assigned them this year.

Taylor justified the new system by saying that the discussions will be "more complex and specialized" and "less textual" than ordinary treatments. He also noted that the examination of works in their field may help juniors prepare for their general examinations in the spring.