Got a denial letter for unemployment, what now?

My claim was denied after 17 weeks of waiting, and the letter says I have a short window to appeal. There are 9 people counting on me, so I am trying to be careful. The letter lists a deadline and a hearing process, but it is hard to follow. Did you bring documents or only talk?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it last year, and it settled down once I kept a simple log of every call and form.

I printed my emails in order and wrote a one-page timeline. The hearing officer kept going back to it.