Appeal deadline questions after an unemployment denial - 7 months and counting

My claim was denied after 17 weeks of waiting, and the letter says I have a short window to appeal. I worked as an operations analyst before this. The letter lists a deadline and a hearing process, but it is hard to follow. If you have appealed before, what helped you prepare?

Stay calm and stick to facts. Mine lasted about thirty minutes and felt more like a conversation than a trial.