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You need to produce a 2,500 report on the above topic. The report is aimed at a government committee discussing the legal status of recreational drugs. In order to make their decision, the Members of Parliament (MPs) on the committee require a report that summarises the literature to date on risks (e.g. acute risks, long-term neuropsychological damage, risks to mental health) associated with taking ecstasy. Please follow the guidance below when writing your report.
Consider your audience. The MPs are not psychologists or pharmacologists therefore your report should be aimed at someone with no knowledge of the topic. This means that you must explain the pharmacology of ecstasy and the strengths and weaknesses of research clearly and concisely, giving definitions and explanations of all technical, pharmacological and psychological terms used.
Structure your report into different sections with relevant subheadings. Your report should not be one continuous piece of text. The amount of sections and headings is up to you, but the report should start with a 250 word (max) summary, similar to an abstract for a research report.
Consider what the MPs need to know. A brief discussion of what the drug is, how it works and patterns of use may be a good way to introduce them to effects of this drug.
Base your report on original journal articles. You will not find enough information on this topic in textbooks.
Evaluate the research you cite. The MPs need to know the limitations of research in this area in order to make an informed decision based on the scientific literature.
Your report should describe and evaluate research findings as objectively as possible. You are not required to make a recommendation to MPs about changing the legal status of ecstasy (MDMA) so your report should focus on unbiased reporting of scientific findings.
