In this article, we argue that writing instructors might support students in messy problem-exploring through multimodal composition assignments like video composition, and in particular, through careful attention to assessment practices. Through reflective analysis of one teacher's experiences with video composition in first-year writing, we suggest that ongoing formative reflection might be useful for prompting and extending problem-exploring within digital composition. We reflect specifically on Angie's interpretations of her students’ experiences with problem-exploring through video, we narrate how we came to see the limitations of product-focused assessment, and we offer a revised model of ongoing formative assessment.

Computers and Composition 40 (June 2016): 151-163.