Final answer:
Answer is option c. The starting point for an argument is a claim, which is a statement that asserts something is true or valid, or that some action should be taken.
Step-by-step explanation:
The starting point for an argument is C. Claim. In an argumentative essay, a claim is a statement that asserts something is true or valid, or that some action should be taken. It is the main point or position that the writer is trying to prove or support. All claims in an argument should be backed up with logical reasoning and sufficient evidence. Counterclaims (option A) are opposing viewpoints that are addressed and refuted in the argument. Bridges (option B) help connect ideas and provide smooth transitions between different parts of the argument. Supports (option D) are reasoning and evidence that back up the claims made in the argument.
Summarizing counterclaims can provide the paper with focus and demonstrate thorough research, but it is not the starting point of an argument. Instead, they typically follow the introduction of the main claim. To strengthen an argument, the writer must support their claim with facts, statistics, and other types of reliable evidence, while also effectively addressing and refuting counterclaims.