SQL & PL/SQL

I'll preface this with the same statement I usually do when I post on this forum; I am T-SQL native and I am trying to rewire by brain to work with Oracle and PL/SQL.
Anyway, I am writing a report with a date parameter to be used with BI Publisher. I'm just not sure that my syntax is correct in my where clause. Can someone please tell me if this looks right?
WHERE (EFFECTIVE_DATE >= :startdate And EFFECTIVE_DATE <= :enddate)
or do I need to use the To_Date function in a way something like this?
WHERE (EFFECTIVE_DATE >= TO_DATE('&startdate','mm/dd/yyyy') And EFFECTIVE_DATE <= TO_DATE('&enddate','mm/dd/yyyy'))

Thanks,
David