Editor’s note: Today’s letters to the editor are from Southwest Junior High students learning about persuasive writing.

To the editor:

When it was first suggested that a new Wal-Mart be built in Lawrence, many people didn’t want to listen. The first thought was that it would create more traffic. Because of the many changes Wal-Mart made during the construction process, many people have changed their minds.

To reduce the traffic in nearby neighborhoods they are going to create a landscape median. This will make it harder for people to cut through the neighborhood whether they are going into or leaving the Wal-Mart. This median will be about 20 feet long. Also they are thinking about creating a traffic signal to go on Sixth Street and Congressional Drive. This will make it easier to go into the Wal-Mart parking lot. All of these renovations will be paid for by Wal-Mart and adjacent property owners.

Wal-Mart will help with unemployment in Lawrence. It is expected to employ 350 people. People who are hoping to work there can start applying in the early spring.

The new Wal-Mart will be about half the size of the old one. It will contain both grocery and general products. At first I didn’t like the idea of a new Wal-Mart. I thought that it was a waste of money and unnecessary. The more I read about it the more I started to see that the Wal-Mart is something that will be good for Lawrence. It will be easier to walk to this Wal-Mart and make shopping trips more convenient. I think I will enjoy the new Wal-Mart.

Katie Bandle,

Southwest Junior High