Final answer:
The correct answer is c) Pitches. These are brief descriptions sent to magazines to propose story ideas intended to convince an editor about the potential of an article.
Step-by-step explanation:
The item that a writer would send to Esquire magazine hoping to sell an article is most properly referred to as a pitch. A pitch is a brief description of an idea for a story used to convince an editor that the topic could result in an interesting and relevant article.
This is different from a query letter, which is a more formal letter asking if there is interest in such an article, and a manuscript, which would be a full draft of the article itself.
Job applicants send cover letters, which serve a similar purpose as query letters, but they are often accompanied by a résumé, particularly when seeking employment. Therefore, the correct answer is c) Pitches.