"I teach writing courses and first of all, I teach my students what prosody is"

Theodore Sturgeon's quote is describing the principle of prosody, which is the study of the rhythm, stress, and modulation of speech. By teaching his students about prosody, Sturgeon is emphasizing the importance of understanding the subtleties of language in order to successfully communicate. He is most likely teaching his students how to utilize language to create a desired effect, such as to evoke feeling or to encourage an audience. Prosody is an important tool for writers, as it can be utilized to produce a certain tone or state of mind in a piece of writing. By teaching his students about prosody, Sturgeon is assisting them to become better writers and communicators. He is likewise assisting them to comprehend the power of language and how it can be used to develop a preferred effect.