code: def element_to_string(element, include_declaration=True, encoding=DEFAULT_ENCODING, method='xml'):
      
  
      if isinstance(element, ElementTree):
          element = element.getroot()
      elif not isinstance(element, ElementType):
          element = get_element(element)
  
      if element is None:
          return u''
  
      element_as_string = tostring(element, encoding, method).decode(encoding=encoding)
      if include_declaration:
          return element_as_string
      else:
          return strip_xml_declaration(element_as_string)
docs: :return: the string value of the element or element tree