If the objects have a stroke around them, the resulting path will keep the stroke.
When text is converted to paths, the resulting paths will be compounded. To edit those paths, you will first have to uncompound them.
See Also
Creating Paths
Drawing Straight Segments Using the Bezier Path Tool
Drawing Curved Segments Using the Bezier Path Tool
Drawing Arcs Using the Bezier Path Tool
Drawing Segments Using the Freehand Drawing Tool
Converting Stroke to Outlines