Research topics + experience- what to include?

[elreb]

I am working on a MA online application that asks me to list "2 or 3 research topics that especially interest you" and to describe pertinent research experience, including the details of a specific project, in 200 words. Both of these short-answer questions have their own text boxes and are independent of the sop and other requirements.

I'm guessing this must be a common feature of online apps these days.

Here's what I'm wondering, and I believe both of these q's would be relevant to someone writing their sop as well:

- how specific should these research topics be? Given that I describe my interests in detail in my sop, and also that I am applying for an MA, not a phD, and therefore my interests are still a bit nebulous.

- what exactly falls under the category of research experience? I wrote a UG thesis, but the research I did was in the library, not a lab. I did not do research for a professor, per se, but wrote many lengthy "research papers."

Grr feeling silly for second-guessing every word.