Final answer:
The stage should be positioned at the lowest setting to start, then adjusted with the coarse and fine focusing knobs to bring the specimen into focus.
Step-by-step explanation:
When you first begin to use the microscope, you should position the stage at the lowest possible setting before placing your slide. Once the slide is secured, you will use the coarse focusing knob to raise the stage and bring the specimen into the general focus under low power magnification. After the specimen is in focus with the coarse adjustment, use the fine focusing knob for precise focusing, especially if you switch to higher magnifications.